Road Trip Idea #5: Best of Both Worlds!

If you’re looking for a nearby destination with plenty of outdoor activities and socially distanced one-of-a-kind attractions, you’re looking for Western Mass.

blog road trip 5 zoar

Western Mass is a dream for outdoor adventure with plenty of hiking, biking, fishing and open space. Choose from three whitewater rafting options with Zoar Outdoor, Crab Apple Whitewater and Berkshire Whitewater.

Add in some zip-lining with Zoar or Berkshire East while you’re here. Berkshire East also has a mountain coaster, mountain bike park and aerial adventure course.

blog road trip 5 seuss

Pair any of these great outdoor adventures with indoor attractions that you’ll only find in Western Mass. The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum is a whimsical look into the life and art of Springfield native Theodor (Dr. Seuss) Geisel and it sits on a hilltop with four other world class museums dedicated to Springfield history & innovation, science, art and fine arts. There’s also a sculpture garden of Seuss characters on the grounds.

blog road trip 5 bhof

The newly renovated Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is the world’s only basketball shrine and just happens to be located in the birthplace of the sport. James Naismith invented basketball at Springfield College and the Hall salutes him with exhibits inside and outside of the venue. You’ll find interactive exhibits and state-of-the-art technology here.

blog road trip 5 ycc

Yankee Candle Village is so much more than a retail outlet. Here you can visit Santa year-round, take a walk through their Bavarian Christmas Village, browse through more than 200 of their signatures scents and even personalize your own candle.

blog road trip 5 mgm

For indoor adventure, look no further than MGM Springfield. MGM Springfield covers three city blocks in the heart of downtown Springfield, Mass. As the world’s first LEED™ Platinum-certified gaming resort, MGM Springfield ignites a cultural and economic renaissance in a historic New England city by seamlessly blending new design with restored historic buildings.

The resort offers socially distanced gaming space and inspired dining with beautifully landscaped outdoor space in the heart of Downtown Springfield. Grab a bite at the South End Market, Costa or Tap Sports Bar.

blog road trip 5 outdoor

There’s so much to see and do in Western Mass that you’ll need a couple days to fully appreciate our special part of Massachusetts! Rest assured, our hotels, restaurants and attractions are following all necessary safety protocols. To see the details, we’ve compiled a list available here and more detailed information about traveling to Massachusetts which is available here.

Keep checking back for updates because more and more attractions are opening daily!  See you soon on the trails, in the venues or both!

Best of Western Mass

Exclusive info and promotions sent directly to your inbox monthly.

CONNECT WITH US